Sugar Buzz or Monarda 'Cherry Pops' An herbaceous perennial. Monarda is native to eastern North America, so it is easy to grow and it multiplies quickly. The flowers' sweet nectar attracts scores of hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees to the garden. The aromatic foliage smells like mint when crushed and is often used to flavor teas. Care Plant in well-draining soil, partial shade to full sun (6+ hours of sun daily), and keep soil consistently moist. Apply slow-release fertilizer in spring, deadhead spent flowers, and trim back in late fall or early spring. Growth Habit In midsummer, 'Cherry Pops' forms a solid dome of cherry red, 2-2½” flowers on strong, well-branched stems. The dark green foliage forms an upright clump that will fill out containers nicely but won’t run all over the garden. It displays above average resistance to powdery mildew. The members of the SUGAR BUZZ® Series from the Walters Gardens hybridizing program are perfectly suited to the middle of the flower border at 16-24" tall. Toxicity Not toxic to humans but may cause mild stomach upset in large quantities. Keep away from pets and children. Seek professional advice if accidentally ingested. Deer resistant.